FOCUS ON LASER WELDING
A SHARP FOCUS
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Laser welding technology.
Laser welding research focuses on improving the efficiency and quality of welding processes, particularly for applications requiring strong, lightweight and durable joints. We examine some international initiatives.
“ In this article, we highlight selected examples of international laser welding research that will impact future manufacturing operations.”
Laser( Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) welding is a fusion welding process where metals or thermoplastics are joined using a focused laser beam. The applied laser beam heats and melts the edges of the materials, forming a joint. Due to its precision, high welding speed, faster processing time, wide material tolerance and consistent quality, laser welding has a wide range of applications.
There are two types of laser welding: heat conduction welding( where the laser beam heats the material surface above the melting point of the material) and keyhole welding( the laser beam heats the material surface to the point of vaporisation, penetrating deep into the material). In thicker materials, laser welding can produce deep and narrow welds. Laser welding is versatile and can be used in conjunction with arc welding to create hybrid laser arc welding.
Laser welding research focuses on improving the efficiency and quality of welding processes, particularly for applications requiring strong, lightweight and durable joints. Key areas of research include developing new beam-shaping technologies, understanding laser-material interactions and creating intelligent control systems for precise welding parameters.
Research also explores the use of laserwelding for joining dissimilar materials, thick-section steel and even hybrid welding techniques that combine laser and arc welding. Other projects involve thick-section steel welding; hybrid laser-arc welding; numerical modelling; microstructure and macro defects plus health and safety. Some material groups are excluded entirely from laser welding( i. e. those that char instead of melting). Issues may also include reflectivity, thermal characteristics and gas affinity.
In this article, we highlight three examples of international laser welding research that will impact future manufacturing operations.
38 | ismr. net | ISMR June 2025